Overhead track switch



Nov. 29, 1955 B. A. BEDFORD ET AL OVERHEAD TRACK SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 6, 1952 INVENTORS.

BY ml Beryl A Bedford Harry M. Andrews 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S mm M d m M nNAW M vw ww m E m m a h mm mm W M W Y M B B. A. BEDFORD ET AL OVERHEADTRACK SWITCH QT: fi mm w E 0% an l 55:: j a M 0m\ E mm mm vw vn \g NS owQ E em 9 H 9? M Kb JLB mm Nov. 29, 1955 Filed March 6, 1952 OVERHEADTRACK SWITCH Beryl A. Bedford, Sharp Park, and Harry M. Andrews, SanFrancisco, Calif.

Application March 6, 1952, Serial No. 275,186

4 Claims. (Cl. 104-104) This invention relates in general to a switchconstruction for overhead trackways of the type generally found inpacking house installations.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved switchconstruction for overhead trackways which includes intersecting railsadapted to have hangers movable thereon, said intersecting railsincluding switch rails movable in and out of connecting positions forselectively connecting alternate rails to a main rail, said switch railsbeing actuated by a common actuating mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved switchconstruction for overhead trackways, said switch construction includinga straight switch rail and a curved switch rail, said straight switchrail being pivotally secured to its respective rail by a pivot pin whichis disposed at an angle to the horizontal whereby said straight switchrail moves in a diagonal plane and provides sufiicient clearance for thecurved switch rail to pass thereby during a switching operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved switch railactuating mechanism which actuates the two switch rails simultaneouslyin opposite directions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved switchconstruction for overhead trackways which may be easily installed inexisting trackways and is of simple construction whereby it iseconomically feasible.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved actuatingmechanism for switch construction for overhead trackways, said actuatingmechanism being mounted over said trackway and being of compact designwhereby it requires a very small space.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved switchconstruction for overhead trackways, said switch construction includingswitch rails being pivotally connected to their respective rails, saidswitch rails having their pivoted ends in alignment with the respectiverails in all positions whereby a hanger moving down one of said railswill ride upon its associated switch rail and cause movement of same ina downward direction in order to connect said rail with another rail.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved switch constructionmounted in an overhead trackway, the straight switch rail beingillustrated in a closed position and the curved switch rail in an openposition;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the switch c011- struction ofFigure 1 with the switching mechanism and the switch rails in reversedpositions;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the switch construcactuating mechanismreversed;

rated States Patent Figure 4 is an enlarged rear side elevational viewof the connection between the straight switch rail and its associatedrail;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure4 and showing the general relationship of the various portions of theconnection between the switch rail and its associated rail;

Figure 6 is an enlarged rear side elevational view of the connectionbetween the curved switch rail and its associated rail;

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of Figure6 and showing the details of the connection; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewtaken through the actuating mechanism and showingthe general detailsthereof.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it will be seenthat the overhead trackways construction includes a pair oflongitudinally extending supports 10 and 12. While these supports 10 and12 support the trackway in the vicinity of the switch construction, it

will be understood that the trackway may be secured equally welldirectly to a ceiling or some other similar supporting structure and itis not intended to limit the invention to trackways supported byelongated supports, such as the supports 10 and 12.

Carried by the elongated supports 10 and 12 and secured to the undersidethereof by a plurality of fasteners 14, is an elongated rectangularplate 16. Secured to the underside of the plate 16 by a plurality offasteners 18 is a generally triangular switch supporting plate 20.

Extending in general alignment with the elongated support 12 is a mainrail 22 which is in the form of a vertically extending rectangular bar.The main rail 22 extends in substantial alignment with the elongatedsupport 12 and is secured thereto by a plurality of conventionalL-shaped hangers 24 which are suspended from the elongated support 12and include horizontal flanges 26 engaging the underside of theelongated support and secured thereto by fasteners 28. One end of themain rail 22 terminates in substantial vertical alignment with onecorner of the triangular switch construction supporting plate 20 and issecured thereto by an L-shaped hanger 30. It will be understood that themain rail 22 extends only one half of the width of the L-shaped hanger30 and its end is connected thereto by a rivet 32. The horizontalportion of the L-shaped hanger 30 is in face to face engagement with theundersurface of the switch mechanism supporting plate 20 and is securedthereto by a fastener 34 which also secures the supporting plate 20 tothe elongated rectangular plate 16.

In longitudinal alignment with the main rail 22 is a first secondaryrail 36 which is partially supported from the elongated support 12 byanother conventional L-. shaped hanger 38. As is best illustrated inFigure l, the first secondary rail 36 terminates short of the one end ofthe main rail 22 and is supported from the switch mechanism supportplate 20 by an L-shaped hanger 40. The end of the first secondary rail36 extends only half way of the width of the other L-shaped hanger 40and is secured thereto by a rivet 42.

Extending at substantially right angles to both the main rail 22 and thefirst secondary rail 36 is a second secondary rail 44 having one endterminating short of the main rail 22 and the first secondary rail 36.The end of the second 7 secondary rail 44 is connected to the plate 16by another conventional L-shaped hanger 46 whose horizontal por-' tionis secured to the plate 16 by a conventional fastener 48. The end of thesecond secondary rail 44 extends only half way of the width of theL-shaped hanger 46 and is secured thereto by a rivet 50.

Extending between the spaced ends of the main rail 22 and the firstsecondary rail 36 and in alignment therewith is a straight switchsection 52 whose ends abut the main rail 22 and the first secondary rail36 and are secured to the hangers 3t) and 40 by rivets 54 and 56,respectively. The central upper portion of the straight switch section52 is cut away and provided with a straight switch rail 58 which ispivotally connected to the straight switch section at its end adjacentthe first secondary rail 36.

Referring now to Figures 4 and in particular, it will be seen that thestraight switch rail 58 is generally in the shape of an elongated barhaving a diagonal end 6% which is in close alignment with a diagonaledge portion 62 of the straight switch section 52. Welded to thestraight switch section 52, as at 64, is an angular plate 66 which isdisposed at a slight angle to the straight switch section 52. Theangular plate 66 is provided with a centrally located fastener 68 whichforms a pivot pin and has rotatably mounted thereon a second angularplate 76 which is in face to face engagement with the first angularplate 66. Carried by the straight switch rail 58 and projecting from oneside thereof is a rib 72 which extends longitudinally of the diagonaledge 60 of the straight switch rail 58 and is welded to the secondangular plate '70.

In view of the foregoing, it will be obvious that when the straightswitch rail 58 pivots about the pin 68 that it quickly moves out of theplane of the straight switch section 52 and that it pivots in a diagonalplane. However, inasmuch as the rear end of the straight switch rail 58is in substantial alignment with the pivot pin 68, it remains invertical alignment with the straight switch section 52 in all positions.

As is best illustrated in Figure l, the straight switch section 52 hassecured to one side thereof by welding an aligning plate 74 which alignsthe free end of the straight switch rail 58 with the straight switchsection 52 when it is in its closed position.

Extending from the end of the second secondary rail 44 towards thestraight switch section 52 is a curved switch section 76 which has oneend in abutting relation with the second secondary rail 44 and issecured to the hanger 46 by rivets 78. The curved switch section 76 isalso supported by another conventional L-shaped hanger 80 which issecured to the underside of the switch mechanisms supporting plate by afastener 82. Carried by the curved switch section '76 is a curved switchrail 84 which has the same general side elevational outline as thestraight switch rail 58, but is longitudinally curved.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 in particular, it will be seen thatsecured to one side of the curved switch section 76 adjacent the freeend thereof is a first annular plate 36 which has mounted therein afastener forming a pivot pin 88. The pivot pin 38 extends at rightangles to the curved switch section 76 and lies in a horizontal plane.The curved switch rail 84 has secured to one side thereof an elongatedflat bar 90 which projects outwardly therefrom and has secured to therear end thereof a second annular plate 92. The second annular plate 92is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 83 and is in face to faceengagement with the annular plate 86.

It will be understood that the curved switch rail 84 is so positionedand of such a length whereby when it is moved to a horizontal position,it will fit within the recess formed in the upper central portion of thestraight switch section 52 and be in alignment with the track thereofand engage the plate 74 secured to one side thereof. When the curvedswitch rail 84 is in a vertical or open position, the rear end thereofremains in alignment with the curved switch section 76 for purposes tobe explained in further detail hereinafter.

Due to the constructions of the straight switch section 52 and thecurved switch section 76, it is readily apparent that the main rail 22may be selectively connected to either the first secondary rail 36 orthe second secondary rail 44. in order that the switch rails 58 and 84-may be selectively opened and closed, the switch mechanism includes anactuating mechanism which is referred to in general by the referencenumeral 94.

As is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, the supporting plate 24) hassecured to the underside thereof by welding an L-shaped hanger 96 whoselower end is connected to the straight switch section 52 and bracedthereby. Secured to the L-shaped hanger 96 by welding is a horizontallyextending tubular member E8 in which is rotatably mounted an elongatedshaft 100. Carried at one end of the shaft 180 and rigidly connectedthereto is a first crank arm 102 whose free end is connected by a link104 to a hook 166 carried by the bar 0 projecting from the curved switchrail 84 and adapted to move same upon actuating the shaft 100. Rigidlysecured to the shaft 160 in angular offset relation to the crank arm 102is a second crank arm 10%. The crank arm 1% is secured to the shaft 109at the opposite end of the tubular member 98 and adjacent the other freeend thereof. The crank arm 108 is connected to a link 110 which is inturn connected to the bar 72 of the straight switch rail 58 by a hook112 welded thereto.

In order that the shaft 180 may be rotated in order to actuate theswitch rails 58 and 84, it is provided with an actuating arm 114 whichhas depending therefrom an actuating lever 116. The actuating lever 116is provided with a horizontal handle portion 118 at its lower end.

Referring now to Figure l in particular, when the actuating lever 116 ismoved downwardly, the shaft 100 is rotated clockwise and the straightswitch rail 58 is moved to a closed position and the curved switch rail84 is moved to an open position. When it is desired to connect secondsecondary rail 44 to the main rail 22, the actuating lever 116 is movedupwardly with the resulting counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 100.The straight switch rail 58 is then moved outwardly and the curvedswitch rail 84 is allowed to move downwardly into a closed position inalignment with one end of the main rail 22.

Illustrated in Figure 1 mounted on the first secondary rail 36 is aconventional movable hanger 12th which is provided with a wheel 122engageable with the rails for permitting movement of the hangertherealong. The bottom of the hanger 120 is provided with a hook 124swivelly connected thereto, the hook 124 being intended for engaginglarge pieces of meat whereby they may be readily transported upon thehanger 12% through the packing plant.

Due to the novel arrangement of the switch rails 58 and 84 with respectto the switch sections, it is impossible for the hanger 12th to move toan open switch and drop down on the floor of the packing plant. Forexample, if the switch rail 58 were in an open position and the hanger120 is moving along the first secondary rail 36 towards the main rail22, the wheel 122 would engage the rear of the straight switch rail 58and tend to climb up thereon. As the wheel 122 moved up upon the switchrail 58 the weight of the hanger combined with the piece of meat hungfrom the hook 124 would cause downward movement of the switch rail 58and cause that switch to close whereby the hanger 120 would proceedalong the straight switch section 52 and on to the main rail 22. If thehanger 120 were on the second secondary rail 44, the same occurrencewould take place with the curved switch rail 84 moving to a closedposition due to the weight of the hanger 12% and meat disposed upon thehook 124.

Due to this novel feature, applicant has not only devised a compact andnovel switch construction which may be readily mounted in conventionaloverhead track construction, but has also devised a foolproof switchconstruction whereby the danger of hangers jumping the switches atintersections of rails is eliminated.

When the switch rails 58 and 84 are both in partially opened positions,derailing of the hanger 120 is prevented by it striking the end of oneof the switch rails. Due to the close linkage of the switchconstruction, the end of one of the switch rails 53 and 84 will alwaysbe adjacent the end of the rail 22 to form either a stop or to functionin its normal capacity as a switch rail.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resortedto without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A switch for connecting a pair of aligned track rails and a rightangularly related track rail to one rail of the pair, said switchincluding a pair of rigid movable switch rails, actuating mechanismconnected to said switch rails for simultaneously moving same inopposite directions, said pair of switch rails including a curved switchrail and a straight switch rail having free ends movable in intersectingpaths in a switching operation, said straight switch rail being mountedfor pivotal movement about an axis inclined relative to the horizontalwhereby said straight switch rail passes said curved switch rail inhorizontally spaced relation during a switching operation.

2. A switch for connecting a pair of aligned track rails, and a rightangularly related track rail to one rail of said pair, said switchincluding a pair of rigid movable switch rails, actuating mechanismconnected to said switch rails for simultaneously moving same inopposite directions, said pair of switch rails including a curved switchrail and a straight switch rail having free ends movable in intersectingpaths in a switching operation, said curved switch rail being mountedfor pivoting in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot pin carried byone of said track rails, said straight switch rail being mounted forpivotal movement about an axis inclined relative to the horizontalwhereby said straight switch rail passes said curved switch rail inhorizontally spaced relation during a switching operation.

3. A switch for connecting a pair of aligned track rails and a rightangularly related track rail to one rail of said pair, said switchincluding a pair of rigid movable switch rails, actuating mechanismconnected to said switch rails for simultaneously moving same inopposite directions, one end of each switch rail being pivotallyconnected to an associated track rail, said connection including a firstangular plate rigidly secured to one of said track rails, a pivot pincarried by said first angular plate, an outwardly directed rib on one ofsaid switch rails, a second angular plate rigidly connected to said rib,said second angular plate being rotatably mounted on said pivot pin inface-to-face relation to said first named plate.

4. A switch for connecting a pair of aligned track rails and a rightangularly related track rail to one rail of said pair, said switchincluding a pair of rigid movable switch rails, actuating mechanismconnected to said switch rails for simultaneously moving same inopposite directions, one end of each switch rail being pivotallyconnected to an associated track rail, said connection including a firstangular plate rigidly secured to one of said track rails, a pivot pincarried by said first angular plate, an outwardly directed rib on one ofsaid switch rails, a second angular plate rigidly connected to said rib,said second angular plate being rotatably mounted on said pivot pin inface-to-face relation to said first named plate, one of said switchrails being straight, the angular plates and pivot pins of theconnection for said straight switch rail being inclined transversely ofsaid straight switch rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS571,607 Werner Nov. 17, 1896 1,078,945 Murray Nov. 18, 1913 2,067,981Ohlson Jan. 19, 1937 2,517,326 LeFiell Aug. 1, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS421,225 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1934

